Every parent needs some advice about challenging issues from time to time. And when it comes to your children’s internet safety, even for the most technologically aware, it can be daunting and confusing. Research backs this up with 47% of parents worrying about how much time their children spend online. The internet can be a safe and wonderful place for young people, and with the right checks and balances i ...

How to entertain the family during the Easter holidays We’re forever searching for new ways to keep the whole family happy during a school holiday. In between tackling that never ending to-do list, which has a way of building up during term time, it’s good to treat yourselves to a day out when Easter arrives. Whether that’s taking the little ones to meet their favourite TV stars or inspiring them at the the ...

With the fear of your child getting bored during school holidays, there can be a lot of pressure to think of something different to do every day. We at Marwell Zoo have put together some ideas to help. When you’re staying at home: Staying at home doesn’t have to be boring and there are many activities to help keep your little ones amused, as well as not having to spend a lot. 1) Cooking in the kitchen is a ...

Clean house, clean clothes, we take it all for granted. Every surface gleaming and clothes that smell of flower strewn meadows, all thanks to the cleaning product industry that has come a long way from carbolic soap and a Mrs Mop mop. But every silver lining has its cloud, and the little ones who pay a big cost for our glittering homes are the fifteen children who arrive at A and E departments every single ...

From role play to puzzles, discover how to make the most of your children’s playtime and assist their personal development, too. The flurry of modern life – and all that it offers – usually means the spontaneity of play takes a back seat to hectic work schedules and busy social lives. Rather than over-diarising your children’s playtime, you can try letting them loose to entertain themselves and make up game ...

National Adoption Week starts 3rd – 9th November 2014, highlighting the real need for more people to consider adoption. In 2013 there were over 68,000 looked after children in England alone. (www.baaf.org.uk) Nearly half of these children became looked after because of abuse or neglect. The amount of children in the care system continues to rise and the need for adopters to help a child have a childhood is ...

Starting or returning to school is always an exciting time for your little ones. However, regardless of the age of your children, it can also bring with it feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. It’s not easy being a child, with increased pressures to achieve academically, combined with the need to fit in with peer groups in order to be popular. Here are some things to consider to help put your child’s mind a ...

Adoption is a way of providing a loving new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents. Nicole Harman tells us of one of her experiences helping a couple in their journey to adopt a child. “I am passionate about my role and find great pleasure in knowing that I have helped people create families.” says Nicole “Over the past year the most rewarding result has not only been the volume ...

Very few parents leap gleefully out of bed in the middle of the night to change a wet bed. It isn’t joy-filled but night toilet training is essential as children learn to master their bladder. To help smooth the way here are some tips as together you approach dry nights. Tip 1 - Between 18months and 2 years This is the age most children would have been toilet trained in years gone by. Now it is the reserve ...

Ann Marie's story Four months into 2014, it's funny how you begin to realise you are ready for a new challenge and change of career, but what to do next? As a single mother of three school age children, working at my children’s school is more than ideal. Although I have years of experience of working with and raising children, I don’t have a recognised qualification in childcare, so getting another job in t ...

Keep your kids occupied over the school holidays with inexpensive fun days out and new experiences: Have fun learning at an exhibition Exhibition centres around the country host different events all year round, appealing to all interests – both fun and educational (or both). The Christmas holidays are an ideal time to get hands-on and visit one. The NEC in Birmingham (www.thenec.co.uk) is showcasing a numbe ...